Can anyone recommend some good aftermarket headlights for my 97?

I'm looking for a new pair of aftermarket led headlights for my 97... I've been looking at a few options on Amazon for 7x6 headlights, but I don't know which ones to choose, i dont wanna spend too much, and i want some headlights that have a lo-beam/hi-beam option on them. Don't have to be DOT approved, just led ones that are pretty good quality and preferably under 100$.

 

Sure you want LEDs? I think @crashnburn80 might be the guy to give you some input.

 

I run the Hella E-Code housings that @crashnburn80 will recommend and I can vouch for 'em. Under $100 on

$120 Hella 200mm Rectangular E Code H4 Halogen Replacement Headlight Kit with Standard 60/55W H4 Bulbs

amazon.

 

See i dont know, I want black headlights to match my blacked out white look, but those hella ones look similar to the ones im already running, what are the downsides to LED's?

 

This is the downside to LEDs: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/why-leds-should-not-be-run-in-halogen-reflectors.454371/

These E-codes are going to be by far the most effective mod per dollar for increased light output in a sealed beam truck. I cannot recommend these enough.

But the E-codes are only a base platform, you can then step it up to high powered halogens and have extreme performance, better than what is shown in this thread with DOT housings:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-ultimate-headlight-upgrade-h4-not-led-or-hid.398066/

 

i literally just bought and installed some LEDs. one sec let me find the link for the ones i bought.


EDIT - https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/efrideet.459169/page-11#post-18094747


this post has the stuff i used. dirt cheap and they work great

 

Specific LED bulbs can be run without blinding other drivers and still get decent light output if you make a glare guard.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/problem-solved-the-led-headlights-glare-guard-mod.395222/

 

I've got these and like them, beam pattern is good and they're much cleaner light than the old sealed beams.

$87 BICYACO 1 Pair 105W Rectangular 5x7/ 6x7" Led Headlight High Low Beam Headlamp Compatible with Jeep Wrangler YJ Cherokee XJ Kenworth T300 1997-2010 Replacement H6054 H5054 H6054LL 69822 6052 6053

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B074LT5B1M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_2OesBbGARVGGZ

 

My preference is the H4 halogen conversion lights, they drop in and look somewhat factory, but have a clear lens and full reflector inside instead of the chrome lining and foggy lens of sealed beams.

Overall you get better light output and the ability to drop in a better set of bulbs if needed. I ran the yellow tinted lens eBay ones that are about 40$ a pair and dropped in GE nighthawk bulbs for another 15$ and they worked great.

 

Thanks for sending those. Those look like a pretty good option for me.

I just gotta worry about my front struts and my shock absorbers before i buy some new headlights.

 

Hows the output compared to HID with retros? Straight plug and play?

 

29$ clear 7x6 housings and 29$ ebay LEDs. Ran them in every truck I’ve had always liked them

 

Need a 20 dollar harness to convert it from ground side switched to positive switch. But it's all plug and play no splicing

 

But you may not be liked by the other drivers.

Unfortunately our 95-97 trucks came from the factory with headlights that belong to automotive in 1950 - that what the stock H6054 is. The first thing to do is to replace H6054 with quality 6x7 H4 lamp. It is easier to replace H4 bulb (just opening the hood and pull the bulb off) than H6054 which requires to pull out the grille.

For drop in replacement of stock sealed beam housing I recommend e-coded Hella (very good light pattern, very strong glass) or E-coded Autopal lamp (for half price is quite close to Hella for the beam pattern and decent glass). Stay away from sealed beam H6054, plastic H4 conversion, sealed LED or projector-like looking lamps. All these don't perform, regardless what seller is claiming.

As far as LED drop-in H4 bulbs in reflector housing, they just don't cut it. It does not matter if LED bulb has shield or not - the problem with low beam is in the LED chip size, position and orientation - it is wrong for reflector housing. Some owners may say they are OK, but it does not mean they do perform better than good quality halogen bulb in quality housing, and for sure none of them would pass EU inspection. Sorry, as much as people want LED in all cars, the technology is not there yet. LED chip does not work the same way as halogen filament does. The main issue is that when people want it, there will be others who will take advantage on them and will offer shitty products with BS claims and incorrect information. But I still blame uneducated buyer, not sneaky seller.

If someone needs more light off road (or open road with not traffic), by all means put as many LED light bars as needed, but for DD in the traffic where most of the driving is with low beams, just stick to solid cut-off and low beam pattern spread on the road directly in front of the truck - that good quality H4 halogen bulb can give. I did the same in my 4Runner quality halogen bulb in stock reflector housing for low beam and added 28 inch LED bar (145W) between headlights turned on together with hi beams. That additional 14000 lm from LED bar helps when driving in woods or open roads ( ). Still looking for similar solution to my Tacoma.

 

I don’t get flashed running the ones I have. Aim the headlights down and call it a day

 

That defeats the purpose. The other solution would be to never take them out of the box

 

To each there own I guess. Ran them in plenty of trucks. Never been flashed. I understand the cut off isn’t right and all that. But they work do there job and are better than factory. Never had issues in my full size Cummins being flashed and it sat higher than my Tacoma

 

The Hella E-codes are one of the things I miss most about my 1991. Stock headlights pretty much suck across the board and those housings rocked. Very distinct cut off, very even light field below. I had them with slightly bumped 85W/80W Osram bulbs and a relay harness. Loved those lights. HIGHLY recommend those.

 

Check my post from earlier with the link. The lights were easy to install in hindsight and to this day are super bright without blinding anyone.

 

Just to bump up an expectations let me state this: most of H4 or LED will have better lighting than stock sealed beam (especially 8 dollars basic H6054 lamp). But if the base line for comparison is set to quality Phillips or Silvana (Osram in Europe) halogen H4 bulb in Hella housing the "upgrade" to LED does not look so good. The only thing that you can be sure LED "upgrade" will give you is "whiter" light color, but while it looks "cool" it is not necessary better for visibility. Actually the optimal color for your eyes is less than 4000K (you see more at night when using lower Kelvin color). It does not have "modern look", but it is better for visibility and safety at the same time.
Low beam cut off and light pattern is still the big obstacle for LED.

Researching the LED 6x7 lights I see some new products pop-up from time to time. I'm talking about dedicated and designed from scratch the whole lamp, not H4 bulb (like I wrote before the H4 LED bulb substitute is the wrong path). Something like the newest "GENSSI 7x6 LED Projector Headlights Sealed Beam Replacement DOT"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu8C1CZ8W20

This is really the only way to go if you want LED and be safe: specially designed housing for dedicated LED chips. We are getting closer but still not there yet (in my opinion). The good thing is that we have the same lamps as Jeep, and really the Jeep market is driving 6x7 lamps development, not 3 years Tacoma models. So maybe one day we will have some good LED 5x7 lamp.

By the way if you want to see what the "low beam cut off" should look like in reflector housing check the video (different car, but will give you idea how we do it in Europe). Skip the boring introduction just watch the light pattern and cut of line. This is not projector, but standard reflector housing. Actually the similar cut off you have with Hella 6x7 with H4 halogen bulb.

https://youtu.be/q1T1RfwIGv0?t=249